Learn more about how to reduce you and your family's exposure to harmful algal blooms:

Swimmers should be concerned about HABs in any lake in which they are considering swimming (check the HABs Notifications page to see if your lake is listed). The risk for exposure while swimming is greater when blooms cover a large part of a lake or when water sample results show a bloom is present in the open water (this may indicate more extensive bloom coverage). The Notifications page indicates, when known, the extent of the bloom coverage.

People vary in their sensitivity to HABs exposure, in the same way some people are more sensitive to poison ivy. Cyanobacteria can release toxins and other harmful compounds that affect people through skin exposure or ingestion. Gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are possible. Skin or throat irritation, allergic reactions or asthma-like breathing difficulties are also symptoms of exposure.

If you think you may have been exposed to a HAB and are experiencing symptoms, contact your physician or, in the case of severe reactions, seek immediate medical attention. You should inform your physician and your local health department if you were exposed to an algal bloom, both to help determine the proper course of treatment and to determine if others should also be notified of this potential risk. More information about these symptoms can be found on the Department of Health Blue-green Algae webpage (link leaves DEC website). Swimming at regulated beaches will greatly reduce your risk of exposure to HABs, since beaches are closely monitored for the presence of blooms. Beach closures by health officials are conducted to protect swimmers.

If you plan on swimming outside of a regulated swimming beach, please visit the DEC swimming web page for information to help you reduce your risk for exposure to potential hazards. It is ultimately your responsibility to decide if the risks associated with swimming in a lake are acceptable. People and pets should avoid swimming in heavily discolored water or surface scums, and should not handle algae material. Don't let children or pets wade, drink the water, or walk in beach debris if you suspect an algae bloom is present. The best advice is "If you see it, avoid it". Following this advice will greatly reduce the likelihood of exposure to HABs.

Drinking Water Concerns

Never drink untreated surface water, whether or not algae blooms are present. Untreated surface water may contain other bacteria, parasites or viruses, as well as cyanotoxins that could cause illness if consumed. People not on public water supplies should not drink surface water during an algae bloom, even if it is treated, because in-home treatments such as boiling, disinfecting water with chlorine or ultraviolet (UV), and water filtration units do not protect people from HABs or toxins. If washing dishes in untreated surface water is unavoidable, rinse with bottled water to reduce possible residues. While we don't know if water containing low levels of HABs toxins could leave residues on dishes, taking this precaution may help reduce possible exposure risk.

If you are not on public water and use surface water for drinking, preparing food, cooking, or making ice, you are at risk of exposure to HABs, cyanotoxins, and other common drinking water contaminants. Please contact your local health department (link leaves DEC website.) More information about can be found on the Department of Health Blue-green Algae webpage (link leaves DEC website.)

How much HABs toxins accumulate in fish flesh is still being studied. There have been no reports of people becoming sick from eating fish caught during a bloom. Some states have provided some precautionary advice about limiting consumption of fish fat, skin, and organs, and recommend rinsing/cleaning filets with fresh water before cooking or freezing. The New York Freshwater Fishing Guide advises anglers to avoid eating fish caught from areas that have the thick paint-like or pea soup-like coloration characteristic of cyanobacteria blooms.

HABs cells can stick to animal fur and become concentrated when the animal cleans itself. Rinse your dog, pet or livestock with clean water and seek veterinarian medical assistance should your animal show any signs of distress. HABs may release a fast-acting nerve toxin that can be dangerous for pets, particularly dogs that swim within blooms. Symptoms of HABs exposure for dogs include:

Stumbling, seizures, convulsions, paralysis

Excessive salivation or drooling

Disorientation, inactivity or depression

Elevated heart rate, and difficulty breathing

If you see or suspect any of these symptoms, particularly within 30 minutes to a few hours after exposure to an algal bloom, seek immediate veterinarian care.

Long-term exposure to algal liver toxins may lead to symptoms such as repeated vomiting (green liquid), diarrhea or tarry (bloody) stool, loss of appetite, anorexia, jaundice (yellowing of eye whites or gums), abdominal swelling tender to the touch, cyanosis (bluish coloration) of skin, dark urine or reduced urine output. Your veterinarian should be consulted to see if veterinarian assistance is appropriate. Any information you can provide to the veterinarian about the potential duration of algae exposure will help to determine the appropriate course of action.

New York Sea Grant published a Dogs and Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) (PDF) (809 KB) brochure. The brochure includes: descriptions of common symptoms and what to do, information about toxins and how dogs are exposed, how to reduce your dog's risk of exposure and how to report suspected blooms.

Preventing HABs

The public and lake residents can do their part to reduce the likelihood of algae blooms by reducing the addition of nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) to waterbodies. The amount of nutrients can be decreased by:

Limiting lawn fertilization

Maintaining septic tanks

Installing and maintaining shoreline buffers

Reducing erosion and stormwater runoff

Improving water movement

Detailed information about these nutrient control strategies are discussed in chapters 7 and 9 in Diet for a Small Lake, a publication prepared by DEC and the New York Federation of Lake Associations to advise New Yorkers about lake management.

DEC has many ongoing programs to reduce the amount of nutrients going into NYS waters:

The DEC HABs Program (PDF, 1.8 MB) consists of DEC staff within the Division of Water, Lake Monitoring and Assessment Section that work to identify HABs, communicate public health risks through outreach and education and conduct research. DEC maintains collaborative partnerships with NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH) and NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to coordinate the response to HABs concerns around the state. DEC and NYSDOH conduct research projects specifically to assess HABs risk and to better understand the conditions that trigger HABs occurrence.

DEC promotes long lasting partnerships with watershed organizations, lake associations and academic institutions to report HABs and inform the public about risks. Current partners include: